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Food Safety: An Integral
Food safety can be
compromised anywhere
along the way from the
‘farm to the fork’.
F
ood safety is a necessity for everyone. The
food on our table needs to be produced,
processed and marketed safely to protect the
consumer.
Trade liberalization and globalization have
opened not only our borders; they also have
increased our exposure to insect pests and food
safety hazards. Annually, the number of people
24 | IAEA Bulletin 53-3 | September 2012
suffering from food poisoning in industrialized
countries increases by 30%.
Foodborne illness caused by ingesting
contaminated foodstuffs which carry viruses,
bacteria, protozoa, parasites or fungi, usually
results in nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or fever.
Symptoms range from mild to severe, and tend
to affect the more vulnerable consumers such as
babies, pregnant women and the elderly.
Part Of Food Security
Many of the germs that cause foodborne illness
also can be transmitted in contaminated fresh
water. Infection usually occurs while preparing
or eating contaminated food. Because water
systems often serve large numbers of people,
outbreaks of disease can affect large segments
of the population.
practices, which are important issues for
economic, religious or cultural reasons. For
instance, nuclear techniques can be used to
authenticate the purity and origin of specific
regional specialities such as oil, wines, and other
commodities.
According to the World Health Organization,
foodborne and waterborne diarrhoeal diseases
together kill approximately 2.2 million people
annually, including 1.9 million children.
But food safety standards
alone are not enough. Radiation
technology can complement
and supplement existing
technologies to ensure food
security, safety and quality.
Foodborne illness can also be caused by
chemical hazards such as pesticides, which can
lead to chronic, life-threatening symptoms or
immunological disorders, as well as cancer and
death.
Food safety can be compromised anywhere
along the way from the ‘farm to the fork’: farmers
use agricultural chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides
and veterinary drugs; processors and retailers
can adulterate, improperly prepare or store
the food, or fail to adhere to the best hygienic
standards before the food reaches our kitchens.
Trade liberalisation and
globalisation have opened not
only our borders; it also has
increased our exposure to insect
pests and food safety hazards.
In recent years, many countries have developed
integrated and harmonized food safety and
quality control guidelines in accordance with
national legislation and international standards
to protect the health of consumers. But
food safety standards alone are not enough.
Radiation technology can complement and
supplement existing technologies to ensure
food security, safety and quality.
For instance, nuclear techniques are used
to verify food safety, by tracing food or feed
products through all stages of production,
processing and distribution.
Increasingly, food safety is also a vital factor in
ensuring food security — the quantity, access
and availability of safe food. Food irradiation can
cut post-harvest food losses caused by insects,
bacteria or mould by 25% to 40%.
In the irradiation process, food is exposed
to electron beams, gamma rays or X-rays to
destroy microorganisms and control spoilage.
Food irradiation has several advantages over
heat or chemical treatments, refrigeration or
freezing since it does not significantly raise food
temperatures so the food does not “cook”.
The process does not affect the taste, smell
or texture of the food, nor does it deposit any
potentially harmful chemical residues. Since the
radiation can pass through packaging, packed
foods can be treated, protecting them from any
subsequent microbial contamination or pest
reinfestation.
The FAO/IAEA Joint Division provides technical
assistance to Member States who wish to
adopt irradiation technology to support their
international trade in food commodities and to
help ensure consumer safety.
Lizette Kilian, Division of Public Information.
E-mail: L.M. [email protected]
Nuclear techniques are also used to prove
product authenticity, to combat fraudulent
IAEA Bulletin 53-3 | September 2012 | 25